Iranian leadership divided as hard-liners sabotage negotiations, Khameni still unseen - report
Khamenei has not been seen since being appointed in March after the death of his father, and while written statements and messages have been issued in his name, many have doubts.
In July, Iranian forces attacked three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz without authorization from the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), President Masoud Pezeshkian, or the Supreme National Security Council, according to the New York Times. This incident highlighted the tension caused by the apparent absence of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen since his appointment in March following his father's death.
Khamenei's lack of involvement has allowed Iran's hard-line faction to sabotage negotiations with the US. Khamenei, who has not been publicly seen since March, has issued written statements and messages in his name, but many have doubted their authenticity. Pezeshkian claimed to have met with Khamenei in May and again in August, but doubts persist about the validity of these meetings.
Despite Khamenei's absence, tensions escalated following the July strikes, leading to accusations of treason and threats of resignation, resulting in the appointment of General Mohsen Rezaei to lead the Supreme National Security Council. Hard-liners, including Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Mousavi, have called for escalating the conflict, advocating for intensified attacks and targeting regional oil facilities.
However, Pezeshkian and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher-Ghalibaf warn that such a plan could lead to economic disaster and further US airstrikes.
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